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Rams Falter Second Day At Burger King Invitational Following a 24 team LEADING 298 effort and 1st place position after day 1, the Ram Golf Machine suffered a major breakdown to slip back to a 10th place finish with a team score of 618. With it's "A" and "B" teams both in the tournament, Coach Mike Jacobs was most anxious to see how this year's team and their new faces might play. Day 1 ended with the team in 1st place and poised to possibly win it's first MAJOR tournament. Following their first rainy day practice of the year on Friday the team settled into their motel at 10 PM. That next day, and first day of the 2003-04 campaign saw some great play. David Bradshaw, the team leader shot a 70 and was only one stroke off the individual leader position. #2 man Billy Clusman, shot a 76; #3 Chris Butcher posted a 75; and Justin Hockman's 78 was dropped as freshman Bryan Snow brought home a 77. Also of note, the "B" team (led by Spencer Byrd, who lost to his roommate Bryan Snow in Friday's one hole playoff, with a "sizzling" 73) placed 11th after day one. Rounding out the "B" team effort was Ira Brick with a 75, Jason Ferguson with a 79, Nathan Ezell with an 81 and Chip Clusman with an 87. With their emotions running high, the team was poised for the "no range warm up" and shotgun start. Dave Bradshaw drew the tough #5 hole (longest on the course 570 yards) par 5. What happened next is straight from "Tin Cup" but without the reckless bravado. Dave scored an IMPOSSIBLE 14 on that hole. With the shotgun placing of his teammates the word flew around the course, the trickle down affect of the leader's woe infected the "A" team as they posted a 320! Only freshman Bryan Snow survived the ripple effect as he posted a 75 for the second day. Dave’s hole was a legendary disaster. His first ball was driven out of bounds, second shot in the fairway, third shot long of the green and in a hazard, that ball when struck proved to be THE WRONG BALL, so a lost ball led him back to the fairway to replay his original "lost" ball. a short approach with the final strokes to hole the ball finally tallied an 9 over 14! To his credit the Ram leader played only a 4 over 17 additional holes. Also of note was the class and professional way he finished. His demeanor was first class and he continued to try to squeeze a stroke or two off his score. Except for Bryan Snow (75), all other "A" team players shot 80 or higher.The "B" team, led by Spencer Byrd's 76 was able to hold their 11th spot and actually bested the "A" team's second day play. Coach's Comments "Par 5 holes are usually the hole that great golfers enjoy playing. They are naturally set for the birdie and if you make a mistake they also allow for a comeback to no worse than birdie. How David weathered a FOURTEEN and played 4 over the rest of the way says volumes about him and his character and class. The effect of the point guy going down also is reminiscent of loosing a general and the effect on the troops. David passed his test, the rest of the team must dig deeper and answer the question individually. It is obvious that Bryan Snow is a gamer and passed his test. It is also evident that Spencer Byrd is also a player. Overall, a 1st place the first time out and only the second day
together would have been magic. What we end up with is tragic. I think
we found out some things about ourselves and our question about
potential was also answered. Now we must regroup and set to work again.
I was really proud of this year's recruiting class!"
Next outing is scheduled for Saturday the 20th at Hollow Creek GC,
Middletown MD. The Rams will be playing a 10-man match play event
against Division I Mount St. Mary's. |
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Shepherd College |
P.O. Box 3210
| Shepherdstown, West Virginia | 25443-3210 |
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